122.]
and blessed them"." And who can tell what a blessing may attend the efforts of ministers, in reference to young people, even whilst the older and more intelligent reject their word? Certainly the appointment of the ordinance which we have been considering proclaims loudly the duty of ministers, and affords them all the encouragement that their hearts can desire.]
3. To young people —
[Persons in early life, though taken to God's house that they may serve the Lord in his instituted ordinances, rarely imagine that they have any personal interest in any part of the service. They think that religion is proper for those only who have attained a certain age; and that it will be time enough for them to serve the Lord, when their understandings are more matured. But the corn cannot be too green, pro- vided only " the ears be full0." There must be integrity, what- ever be the age : for an hypocrite can never find acceptance with God. But as to intellectual capacity, God both can and will supply that to the youngest child in the universe that has a desire to surrender himself up to him : yea, " the things which are hid from the wise and prudent, he will reveal to babes ; for so it seemeth good in his sight p." Nay more, to those in early life God has given an express promise, a promise made exclusively to them: " They that seek me early shall find meq." Why, then, should young people despond, as though they were incapable of serving God ? I have no hesitation in saying, that they are as acceptable an offering as can possibly be presented to the Lord : yea, in some respects God is more glorified in them than in persons at a more adult age ; because the power of divine grace is more conspicuous in proportion as it is seen to be independent of man. Nor am I sure that such early monuments of divine grace do not render peculiar service to the Church ; because their exhortations and ex- amples are preeminently calculated to affect both the old and young : the old, as putting them to shame ; and the young, as shewing them the practicability of God's service even at their tender age. I say, then, that this ordinance is particu- larly instructive to the young, and should inspire them with a holy zeal to surrender up themselves to God at the earliest period of their lives.]
Address —
1. The young —
[Methinks I see you with your heads erect, and your- selves in all the greenness of early life ; and I hear you saying,
n Mark x. 13 — 16. ° ver. 14. p Matt. xi. 25, 26. «i Prov.viii. 17.